Issue 81 – 25, December 14th, 2025
Finland to End Homelessness
Finland has been working hard to fight homelessness, which means helping people who do not have a place to live. In 2022, a special report was made to see how well Finland is doing and what more can be done. The goal is to make sure that by 2027, almost no one in Finland is homeless.
Over the last years, homelessness in Finland has decreased a lot. Fewer people are living outside or in shelters. For example, in Helsinki, the number of homeless people has dropped by about 72%. This success is mainly because Finland has increased the number of rental homes and improved services to help people find permanent housing.
A key idea in Finland’s plan is called “Housing First”. This means everyone has the right to a home, and getting a house is the first step to fixing other problems like addiction or health issues. Once people have a home, they can get support to improve their lives. This approach has worked well and is being updated to help even more vulnerable groups, like young people or those with complex needs.
The program also focuses on preventing homelessness before it happens. This includes better coordination between different services and quick help for those at risk. The government plans to spend money to build and find homes for people who need them most. They want to limit the use of emergency shelters and instead give people a permanent home as fast as possible.
Overall, Finland's efforts are showing good results. The country is closer than ever to ending homelessness, and many believe that with continued support and updates, they can reach their goal by 2027. Ending homelessness is important because everyone deserves a safe and stable place to live.
Read more - Feantsa-2023-17-2_A09.pdf
MY Memories
Thirty years ago, unions in Ontario, started organizing a series of major protests called "Days of Action" to fight against government policies they saw as harmful to workers and the poor. These protests involved many workers, students, community groups, and social organizations working together to shut down workplaces and hold demonstrations across the province.
These political protests were different because they targeted the government through their supporters. Workers used these protests to try and slow down a government that was changing laws they disagreed with.
Between 1995 and 1998, Ontario unions held eleven Days of Action. These were large protests where thousands of workers and community members shut down many businesses and public services. The goal was to oppose a government led by Mike Harris, who was pushing policies that cut social programs, limited workers' rights, and favored big businesses.
Harris's conservative government was called the "Common Sense Revolution" because it cut taxes, reduced government services, and attacked welfare and workers' rights. Many unions and community groups felt these policies hurt the poor and working people. So, they organized to fight back.
It all started in the fall of 1995 when the Steelworkers and the Sudbury Labour Council called on the community to boycott a local car dealership, the owner, a big cheerleader of the Harris government. During the days of the boycott, the dealership saw no customers. The owner, who was also the Chair of the local Chamber of Commerce, soon changed his mind about being a cheerleader and resigned the chair.
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), led by President Gord Wilson, organized to send a bigger message. London, Ontario, was an obvious choice for a protest because the insurance industry, many based in London, were still bragging about how they had helped elect Harris. Leaders worked with workers, community groups, and social organizations to build coalitions. They held meetings, talked to members, and explained why the protests were important. Workers and community members decided to support the protests.
At midnight, the night shift workers didn’t show up, and in the morning, buses began arriving in town. On December 11th, the coldest day of the year, the community and workers marched through the streets. The message was delivered, the city was shut down.
In cities like London and Toronto, unions prepared detailed plans. They identified workplaces to shut down, trained volunteers to lead picket lines, and arranged transportation and support for participants. In Toronto, over 350,000 people took part in a huge march that shut down many government offices, schools, and businesses.
These protests showed the power of unity. Workers and community members learned to work together, share ideas, and supported each other. Even though they didn’t immediately change the government, the protests made a strong statement that many people disagreed with the policies.
The Days of Action in Ontario teach us that large, well-organized protests can challenge unfair policies. They show the importance of working together, labor unions, community groups, and social movements, to make a difference. Planning, education, and peaceful demonstration are key to success. These protests remind us that ordinary people can stand up and fight for their rights and the community they live in.
Monday, December 15 at 12:00 PM ET on Zoom.
The Canadian Health Coalition is capping off this year's webinar series with a conversation with Canada's foremost experts on care work, Pat Armstrong and Hugh Armstrong. Their impressive body of work has studied and advanced the conditions of care and the conditions of work in various health care settings, including in hospitals, home care and long-term care.
Join the Canadian Health Coalition's Anne Lagacé Dowson in a conversation with Pat Armstrong and Hugh Armstrong on how hospitals, homecare and long-term care can be better places to work and care for patients on Monday, December 15 at 12:00 PM ET on Zoom.
Register - Register for the Zoom link